on the 29th July; and in that dispatch (see page 178)
no reinforcements were promised, and indeed offensive
operations were deprecated. The first reinforcement
which left Lower for Upper Canada, appears to have
consisted of about 100 men of the Newfoundland regiment
and 50 of the Veterans, which left Quebec on the 30th
of July for Kingston, to strengthen that post; and
the adjutant-general, on the 1st of August, (page
211), wrote that Sir George Prevost regretted extremely
his inability to render Major-General Brock more efficient
aid. It was only on the 2d of August that Sir
George Prevost promised an additional reinforcement
of four companies of the 49th regiment, (page 215,)
and on the 12th of the same month the remainder of
the regiment (page 218). Mr. Powell confirms
this view of the subject in his admirable letter,
page 261. It will be seen in the sequel that,
on the 13th of August, the adjutant-general wrote
that he had strongly urged Sir George Prevost to send
further reinforcements, as he was sure they could
be spared. As to the remark relative to the weakness
of the enemy on the Niagara frontier, we shall only
mention that Major-General Brock states, in a MS.
before us, that it was the strong American force on
that frontier which compelled him to take with him
to Detroit only half of the militia, who volunteered.
Sir George Prevost to Earl Bathurst.
Head Quarters, Montreal, Sept. 1, 1812.
Since I had the honor of transmitting to your lordship my letter of the 26th ultimo, in charge of my aide-de-camp, Captain Coore, I have received from Major-General Brock a dispatch, of which the enclosed is a copy, containing the particulars of Brigadier-General Hull’s invasion of Upper Canada, which has terminated most gloriously to his majesty’s arms, in that officer’s defeat and surrender, as a prisoner of war, with the whole of the north-western army, together with the fort Detroit, and thirty-three pieces of ordnance.
I forward this dispatch express, in the expectation of its reaching Captain Coore previously to his leaving Canada, which, with the colours of the 4th United States’ regiment accompanying it, I trust that officer will have the honor of delivering to your lordship.
Earl Bathurst to Sir George Prevost.
DOWNING STREET, October 10, 1812.
I have had the honor of receiving your dispatch, dated the 26th August, together with its enclosures, from Major-General Brock, and I lost no time in laying intelligence so important and satisfactory before his royal highness the prince regent.
I am commanded by his royal highness to desire you to take the earliest opportunity of conveying his royal highness’ approbation of the able, judicious, and decisive conduct of Major-General Brock, of the zeal and spirit manifested by Colonel Proctor and the other officers, as well as of the intrepidity of the troops under the command of